Building Trust Through Human-Centered Design

Knowledge is power.

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The year 2017 has proven this to us repeatedly, as big data takes on the world by storm. The ability to convert titanic amounts of information into strategic and effective business decisions is changing the way businesses function everywhere. From Amazoncreating customer specific advertisements to Starbucks’determining where to put their next franchise, big data is driving the future of business design.

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With great power comes great responsibility.

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For all of the value that data can create, it also has the potential to be abused and misused. We had a grave reminder of this recently, when Equifax attempted to hide a vulnerability that exposed nearly half of Americans’ social security numbers to hackers. Even if you weren’t affected by the hacking, it is very likely that your data has been misused in some way, as companies quietly sell our browsing data for profit. It’s easy to see how information can be detrimental when paired with a lack of security and ethics.

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The Business Analyst: Not a want, but a need.

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Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of data security, no longer will they blindly trust a company with confidential information. The Business Analyst’s role is to build this trust, making sure that data is being used as safely and as ethically as possible. By understanding how data is being used and why, the analyst completely familiarizes oneself with its surrounding processes. This is allows them to pinpoint vulnerabilities and misuses in a data system.

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What comes next in the realm of business analytics?

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Exponential increases in design and technology forecast even more changes in the way we work and live. Good design is all about addressing a human need, and creating a demand. Business Analytics addresses the need of security. As analysts, we must rise to the challenge of protecting data integrity, paving the way for meaningful and long-lasting business relationships. In 2018 and beyond, data security is no longer a want, but a need.

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What will you bring to the table?

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